Ward, Marleau help lead Sharks past Flames 5-2
SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) The San Jose Sharks needed to start winning at home and they needed help from their special teams. They got both.
Joel Ward and Patrick Marleau scored power-play goals 50 seconds apart in the second period and the San Jose Sharks beat the Calgary Flames 5-2 on Saturday night.
Tommy Wingels, Tomas Hertl and Marc-Edouard Vlasic also scored and the Sharks won at home for the first time in over three weeks. They had lost five of their previous six at home.
''We were desperate right from the start,'' Sharks center Joe Pavelski said. ''We had everyone going and that was important. We've got to start winning a few games at home, and that was kind of our talk, is win tonight and go from there.''
Markus Granlund and Micheal Ferland scored for the Flames. Calgary dropped all three games of its western trip. It won all three games it played in San Jose last season.
Wingels and Hertl were benched for the final period of the Sharks' 5-2 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks on Wednesday night and both responded with big games. Wingels scored his first goal in 14 games and Hertl scored his first in 19 games.
''Our line found a way early, and when you're able to find your legs and get a goal early, it propels you the rest of the game,'' Wingels said. ''It was a good rebound game for us and we kind of showed ourselves and showed our teammates what kind of line we can be.''
Wingels opened the scoring by tipping Vlasic's point shot in 9:03 into the first. Hertl scored just over 3 minutes later by firing a tough-angle shot from the bottom of the right faceoff circle.
''Great response, exactly what we needed,'' Sharks coach Peter DeBoer said. ''They were a key part of the game. Set the tone with the forecheck and got us those two first-period goals. Key part and we need those guys.''
Ward scored on a 5-on-3, posting up above the crease and smacking a one-timer through Hiller. With one man out of the box, Marleau added to the lead with a wrister from the high slot.
After failing to score on the power play over their first seven home games, the Sharks have three in their past two.
Martin Jones stopped 25 of 27 shots for the Sharks and Jonas Hiller saved 24 of 29 shots for the Flames in his first game since Oct. 28. He missed 13 games with a hip injury.
''He played OK,'' Calgary coach Bob Hartley said. ''The fact he battled all game long, that's why I kept him in there. He needed to play.''
Hiller was activated Thursday and appeared in his first game since Oct. 28.
''Hill hasn't played in a while and we need a better effort in front of him,'' Flames defender Mark Giordano said. ''He didn't have much of a chance on their goals. We're falling behind way too much right now. We have to start playing to our identity. It's way too inconsistent.''
NOTES: Sharks' center Joe Thornton recorded his 1,274th point, tying him for 34th on the all-time list. ... D Justin Braun was placed on the injured reserve list by the Sharks with an infection in his elbow. D Dylan DeMelo was recalled from the AHL to replace him. ... Granlund was recalled from Stockton on Thursday and scored his first goal of the season in his second game back. ... The Flames return home to host the Dallas Stars on Tuesday night. ... The Sharks host the Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday night.
